What travle agents do you guys use when booking flights? Can they really get you a better deal on flights?

Apparently the one I've been trying to deal with doesn't want my bussness.

After many, many trips I do not think there are any deals. I'd rather pay the going rate and not play games.

Tried Kathi last year and was most satisfied. Especially like the meet/greet thing in Joburg. Eases the worry over gun transfers on planes.

708-425-3552

I hope I got the phone number right, this time!

Shawn Brigance at Gracy travel 1-800-299-8558

quote:

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Originally posted by Ivan:
What travle agents do you guys use when booking flights? Can they really get you a better deal on flights?

Apparently the one I've been trying to deal with doesn't want my bussness.

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Ivan go with Kathi!
You will get good deals and great service.
kathi@wldtravel.com

I have used a couple different agencies. My personal favorite is Stacy Gibson w/Falcon Travel, my favorite because over the years I have met her & gotten to know her, so it is more like doing business with a friend.

I personally will always use an agent for international travel, though I agree that i don't really think there are that many "deals" out there, my hunting partner & I had a big time SNAFU with KLM in Almaty Kazakstan, short version is the plane took off & we were still standing there! 1 flight only per day, reservations are now screwed up, language barrier, etc. etc. We finally were able to make an international call back to the states(the time difference made it the middle of the night), woke up our booking agent (Jeff Neal, he is also the best in my books!) explained the situation, he then woke up Stacy (who was on vacation at the time). She & Jeff contacted our respective spouses, kept them reassured & up to speed. I seriously don't think that either one of them slept until we were back in our home towns, I can tell you that she "lit a fire" under KLM.... there were KLM reps to meet us & escort us at every step of the road home! It sure was nice having some one with the connections fighting for us! When things go good & smooth maybe they aren't neccessary, but when it all falls apart (the more you do it, the more likely it is to happen) they are priceless.
Mike

I have used Gracy Travel over the years for most of my clients..I've been more than satisfied, and they have performed a miracle or two in a couple of crisis..

Use Kathi or Gracy travel. Both give good personal service & you won't find better "deals" on your own.

GRACY TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL, INC
6865 Camp Bullis Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78256
Toll-Free : 1-800-299-8558

http://www.gracytravel.com/

I booked my flights with Susan Hill yesterday.
http://www.gracytravel.com/contacts.htm

-Bob F.

Thanks guys. I'll see if I have better luck with Gracy

We use Expedia.com for flights that include cruises, lodging and maybe a car. I have not contacted them about African flights.

For just flights I might go direct and negotiate and or use our miles.

I have used both Gracy and Kathi, and I perfer Kathi, I recieved better sevice, though you won't go wrong with Gracy.

Best thing to do, is call them and pick the one you feel most comfortable doing business with.

Kathi at world travel. Great person to do business with and can answer all your questions.

Ivan,
I just used Barb at International Journeys. Got a great rate through Frankfurt to Windhoek.
You can reach her at 1-800-203-0951.
Lucky1

I'm letting Kathi handle the arrangements for my upcoming trip to Namibia. This is the first time I've availled myself of her services, and so far, she has been outstanding. She's very quick to respond to questions, and really goes "above and beyond". The price she got me was very good, less than a couple of other agents quoted me, so I can use that savings on a trophy fee. But price alone shouldn't be the deciding factor. Go with the service that someone like Kathi provides, and you'll be thankful you did.

Kathi has always done a stand up job for me and my clients.

How many travel agents call you on your cell phone, twenty minutes after you get off the plane and are enroute to your house to ask how big your elephant was? Kathi did. Enough said, I reckon.

JudgeG,
I also picked up your "Winds of Havoc" book at the S.C.I. Convention for you. Where do you want me to send the book??

The book was good reading on the flight home, thanks.

I will give another vote to Kathi. She took good care of me last year with my trip to Zim, including changing the name on my partners ticket. ( My hunting partner couldn't go at the last minute and another buddy decided to go in his place to take pictures.)

She even got a sat telephone call from some drunk sitting around a campfire in the middle of Zim, because my photo shooting partner got sick as a dog. She redid our return flights and got us home early. She even faxed all the new info to the Afton house, so it would be waiting for us.

Needless to say I was in no condition to remember what she said on the phone. (It must have been the malaria meds .)

Thanks again Kathi. I also sent you an e-mail. Time to put together my travel to Namibia.

Regards, Steve aka PG

Give our Gal Kathi Klimes a call. I know alot of other folks have already recommended her, but I'd be remiss if I didn't also put in a plug for her service. She really does go above and beyond with her service. You won't be disappointed. Her # is 708-425-3552. When my last Buffalo hunt to Zim went south at the last minute (1 week before departure) due to the PH's private land being taken by the gov't. she stepped in and called HHK and got me booked on another hunt on the same dates. Can't ask for much more than that.

I used Kathi's services last year in June for a buff hunt and to make a long story short, Kathi is able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again should he fall. She went far beyond the normal functions of a travel agent, she saved my trip to say the least, thanks again Kathi.....Bob

Kathi saved me about $700.00 on my trip this year. I had called another travel agency mentioned here, and Kathi beat hell out of their round trip prices to Dar es Salaam. She gets my vote.

Kathi put together our trip for 8 to Namibia this year too. No complaints. Very polite and prompt.

I always book with Gracy Travel, and consider them to be the African travel experts. They take such good care of you, the client, in so many different ways. The information package they send you along with your tickets, etc., is worth the price of admission all by itself.

When I call Gracy, I always have Steve Turner handle the arrangements. I just booked through him for this season, and within an hour after we hung up, my full flight schedule was on my computer. They don't bill you for your reservations until about six weeks before departure.

AD

I also used Steve Turner of Gracey and couldn't be any more pleased with his services. I had a change in schedule coming home and one call to Steve on that Sat Phone did the trick with no worries on my part. I was a country boy a long way from home but with Steve's knowledge and expertise my trip was smooth as silk. Good shooting.

A question for those that have used these agencies in the past. About how long has it taken on average from initial contact until you received your confirmed reservations? I am hunting in Namibia in August and I contacted the agency I am using 2 months ago and still don't have reservations. Every time I do get in contact, it is something else, and not to mention the unanswered e-mails and phone calls not returned. I am not happy with the service (or lack thereof) I am getting and my frustration level is pretty high, and my hunting partner is just plain pissed off at this point.

JD

quote:

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Originally posted by AKJD:
A question for those that have used these agencies in the past. About how long has it taken on average from initial contact until you received your confirmed reservations? I am hunting in Namibia in August and I contacted the agency I am using 2 months ago and still don't have reservations. Every time I do get in contact, it is something else, and not to mention the unanswered e-mails and phone calls not returned. I am not happy with the service (or lack thereof) I am getting and my frustration level is pretty high, and my hunting partner is just plain pissed off at this point.

JD

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Kathi had my reservations in two days. Reservations are not confirmed until you pay for the tickets.

Ivan,

Many of the previous posters have mentioned the 2 I would recommend namely Kathi and Gracy Travel.
The reason for my recommendation of Kathi is as follows, last year a hunter chose to extend his hunt twice. She did this and when the hunter decided to extend again the service was again perfect. The rebooking and confirmation was done twice in a space of 4 days. Thats service.

Gracy Travel gets a vote due to another hunter who arrived at the checking-in desk with an expired passport. The hunter got on the phone after being told that he would not be boarding his flight to Jhb and immediately had a flight to I forget which state and get a new passport. He left for Namibia the next day witha new passport and re-booked flight.

Both of these hunters post here and can confirm the above, I just hope I got the names of the agencies right.

This year I am using Elaine Porteous at African Odyssey Travel. I am extrememly pleased. Nice lady and gets things done! Her contact info is:

866-486-9351 and aodyssey@gate.net

Thanks for the imput guys. Kathi got me fixed up and ready to fly to Jo'berg in Sept... Can't wait.